Staff / Katherine Frye /
From left, Teacher of the Year Andrea Holloway, Kimberly Harris, 11, daughter of Kathy Pace, and Cassandra Martinez, 11, daughter of Maricela Davis, read through a book together during class at Palmetto Elementary School last week.

The county’s top 400 teachers, professionals, principals and employees will share the spotlight Friday during the Fulton Education Foundation’s annual Legacy of Excellence luncheon at the Georgia World Congress Center.

“Each year, the Fulton County School System honors its employees of the year and exemplary business partners with an awards gala,” Yolander Heard of event sponsor Fulton Education Foundation said in a statement.

The nonprofit foundation provides financial and in-kind support to the school system.

“The foundation’s board includes business and community volunteers who are committed to developing new resources, building collaborative relationships, and strengthening the link between business, community and schools,” Heard said.

Honorees will include south Fulton teachers of the year like Palmetto Elementary School’s Andrea Holloway and Westlake High School’s Jennifer Page.

The designations, granted in May, were based on nominations from colleagues and a rigorous selection process that included classroom observation and interviews.

Page was also honored as the South Learning Community teacher of the year.

This award, presented by learning community Area Superintendent Donald Fennoy and Executive Director Dara Wilson, is given to one teacher from all 27 schools in south Fulton and put Page in the running for county teacher of the year.

“Without question, Ms. Page is a role model teacher who exemplifies all that is great about Westlake and south Fulton. In addition to her incredible teaching skills as an English teacher, she also created a special family-like atmosphere in her classroom with her students,” Principal Grant Rivera said in a statement.

“She and her students have been involved in many community service activities that extend far beyond the walls of Westlake High School, including but not limited to a bike drive over the holidays that raised thousands of dollars for local elementary students. We are grateful for the difference that she makes each and every day at Westlake and in our community.”

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